Digital Archive Post #2: Socratic Method
The Socratic Method was established by one of the most prominent ancient Greek philosophers, Socrates. Socrates lived in 5th century BCE Athens and focused on the ethic thought of individuals to create a just society. Socrates was the teacher of many founding Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. The main way Socrates sought to educate his students was by asking continuous questions and contradicting the opposing view. The Socratic Method can be seen in Plato’s 8 book series, The Republic. In Book 1, Socrates, the narrator in The Republic, opens with a conversation with Cephalus, a wealthy merchant, who portrays his understanding of justice. Cephalus states a just man has “no occasion to deceive or to defraud others, either intentionally or unintentionally.” Socrates then counters Cephalus’ view on justice questioning his statements, following with a metaphor. He refutes his claim through the Socratic Method and continues to question everyone’s views throughout the 8 books and why they believe what they do.
Today, we owe our practice of law to Socrates and his method. According to Charles Scholle, founder of a Georgia law firm and top 100 of Georgia’s trial lawyers, the Socratic Method “is one of the best ways to start preparing for law school and the legal profession.” Law requires critical thinking skills, active listening and learning how to navigate being challenged by another person. All these skills are practiced through the Socratic Method. Not only do we see this method in the courtroom, but we also practice Socrates’ philosophy in the classroom.
Throughout high school, I had experienced numerous Socratic seminars, practicing Socrates’ method. The seminars allowed me to further my understanding on the topic of discussion, while actively engaging with my peers. I questioned their views, while they questioned mine, overall establishing a scholarly environment to facilitate our learning.
